The franchise posted "A Note to the Fans" on Facebook Tuesday to thank audiences "for the love and support you always show us" and to confirm that the latest film in the series, The Fast and the Furious 7, will be completed.

"Our family experienced an unthinkable shock in November," the post says. "We had to take time to grieve Paul, the brother we love and lost, and to figure out if we should move on with our film."

"We came together and all felt the only choice was to continue. We believe our fans want that, and we believe Paul would want that too. Paul had already shot his dramatic scenes and most of his action for FAST & FURIOUS 7, and it's among the strongest work of his career."

"We have resumed shooting and now welcome Paul's brothers, Caleb and Cody, into our FAST family. Caleb and Cody are helping us complete some remaining action for their brother and fill in small gaps left in production. Having them on set has made us all feel that Paul is with us too," the post says.

The producers go on to confirm Vin Diesel's announcement that the film will be released next spring, and that its completion "will allow the character of Brian O'Conner to live on and let us celebrate Paul in his most defining role."

Paul Walker's will was poorly drafted ... making it SEEM like he wanted his mom to wrestle parental control of his daughter from his baby mama-- yet in a strange twist of events, the will now reflects exactly what Paul would have wanted.

Paul's will was drafted back in 2001 ... and it makes his mother Cheryl the legal guardian of Meadow. It reeks of a family feud because there's no mention of Meadow's mother Rebecca Soteros.

The guardianship clause doesn't make sense ... because at the time the will was drafted Meadow lived with her mom in Hawaii .... and sources close to Paul say he was happy with the arrangement when he signed the will.

Now the twist of fate. Three years ago Meadow moved to Southern California to live with her dad and Rebecca stayed in Hawaii. Meadow wants to continue living in So. Cal. and Rebecca is fine with it ... she will continue to live in the Aloha state.

So now it makes complete sense for Paul's mom Cheryl to become the guardian of Meadow.

As TMZ first reported ... Paul's father -- executor of the will -- has petitioned the court to make Paul's mom guardian of Meadow. Cheryl will also be the trustee of Paul's $25 million estate -- which will eventually go outright to Meadow.